The president of the handball club of Nantes, Gaël Pelletier, was sentenced to five games of suspension after his insulting remarks towards referees, qualified as "homophobic" by those concerned, announced Thursday the National Handball League (LNH).
"The disciplinary commission of the NHL, retaining the qualification of offensive remarks against the referees, notified Gaël Pelletier, president of the HBC Nantes club, a period of suspension of six dates, one of which was suspended", indicates the League by press release.
Insulting remarks but "by no means" homophobic
After Nantes' home defeat against Limoges on October 8 (29-27), two referees accused Nantes president Gaël Pelletier of having used homophobic words.
What the latter contested, recognizing "insulting remarks" but "by no means" homophobic.
"In their reports, clear and detailed, the referees of this meeting, and the delegate of the match, indicate that the president of HBC Nantes, Gaël Pelletier, made abusive remarks but also homophobic towards the referees", was moved the French Handball Federation (FFHB) via a press release.
"These words were followed by physical threats and the desire to do battle."
Read alsoHomophobia, radicalization, racism: the shocking book that denounces the failings of sport
Gaël Pelletier has since been suspended as a precaution.
Having already missed four games organized by the NHL, he only has one game left to serve.
“Homophobia has no place in our society and must be severely condemned,” he defended himself on Twitter.
Homophobia has no place in our society and must be severely condemned and it is to ignore my values, my personal life and my social commitment to lend me words of this type.
https://t.co/npxPJmUQL6
- Gaël PELLETIER (@pelletier_gael) October 10, 2021
"It is ignoring my values, my personal life and my social commitment to lend me words of this type", he indicated.